Monthly Archives: December 2010

We are taking a winter break and will be travelling Insya Allah. I thought of putting down some reminders for them in their excitement. May we not bring back things that do not please Allah.

I thought of sharing this story with my children (taken from Ar Raheeq Al Makhtum; The Sealed Nectar).

The story is about Amr bin Luhai. He is the chief of the tribe Khuza’a. He was also known as one of the righteous person in Makkah in his time. Do read on.

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Most of the Arabs had complied with the call of Prophet Ishmael alaihi salam, and professed the religion of his father Prophet Abraham alaihi salam. They had worshipped Allâh, professed His Oneness and followed His religion a long time until they forgot part of what they had been reminded of. However, they still maintained such fundamental beliefs such as monotheism as well as various other aspects of Abraham’s religion.

Until the time when a chief of Khuza‘a, namely ‘Amr bin Luhai, who was renowned for righteousness, charity, reverence and care for religion, and was granted unreserved love and obedience by his tribesmen.

One day, he came back from a trip to Syria where he saw people worship idols. This is a phenomenon he approved of and believed it to be righteous since Syria was the locus of Messengers and Scriptures.

And then he brought with him back an idol (Hubal) which he placed in the middle of Al-Ka‘bah and summoned people to worship it. Readily enough, paganism spread all over Makkah and, then, to Hijaz, people of Makkah being custodians of not only the Sacred House but the whole Haram as well. As a result of this, a great many idols, bearing different names, were introduced into the area. [Mukhtasar Seerat-ar-Rasool p.12]

An idol called ‘Manat’, for instance, was worshipped in a place known as Al-Mushallal near Qadid on the Red Sea. Another, ‘Al-Lat’ in Ta’if, a third, ‘Al-‘Uzza’ in the valley of Nakhlah, and so on and so forth. Polytheism prevailed and the number of idols increased everywhere in Hijaz.

It was even mentioned that ‘Amr bin Luhai, with the help of a jinn companion who told him that the idols of Noah’s folk – Wadd, Suwa‘, Yaguth, Ya‘uk and Nasr – were buried in Jeddah, dug them out and took them to Tihama. Upon pilgrimage time, the idols were distributed among the tribes to take back home. [Bukhari 1/222]

Every tribe, and house, had their own idols, and the Sacred House was also overcrowded with them. On the Prophet’s conquest of Makkah, 360 idols were found around Al-Ka‘bah. He broke them down and had them removed and burned up. [Mukhtasar Seerat-ar-Rasool p.13-54]

Polytheism and worship of idols became the most prominent feature of the religion of pre-Islam Arabs despite alleged profession of Abraham’s religion.

Listen to this: Traditions and ceremonies of the worship of their idols had been mostly created by ‘Amr bin Luhai, and were deemed as good innovations rather than deviations from Abraham’s religion.

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Subhanallah. Let us read now what happen to Amir bin Luhay as told by The Prophet sallallahu alaihi wasalam.

“I saw ‘Amr ibn ‘Aamir al-Khuzaa’i dragging his intestines in Hell. He was the first one to introduce the institution of al-saa’ibah.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 4623.

Lessons for the children
1. Strengthen your aqeedah and know your fundamentals.
2. One must show on their physical appearance their love to Allah. It is an indication of Iman. But beware also on who we take the religion from. Again strengthen your aqeedah.
3. It is important that we know the correct way to worship Allah as taught by Prophet Mohammad sallallahu alaihi wasalam. Any other way of worshipping not taught by him (salllahu alaihi wasalam) as narrated by the sahabah and the salafis are an innovation to the religion.
4. May we not become among those who bring innovation of the deen to ourselves, our families and the people.

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Some features of their worship of idols were:

1. Self-devotion to the idols, seeking refuge with them, acclamation of their names, calling for their help in hardship, and supplication to them for fulfillment of wishes, hopefully that the idols (i.e., heathen gods) would mediate with Allâh for the fulfillment of people’s wishes.

2. Performing pilgrimage to the idols, circumrotation round them, self-abasement and even prostrating themselves before them.

3. Seeking favour of idols through various kinds of sacrifices and immolations, which is mentioned in the Qur’ânic verses:

“And that which is sacrificed (slaughtered) on An-Nusub (stone-altars)” [Al-Qur’an 5:3]

Allâh also says:

“Eat not (O believers) of that (meat) on which Allâh’s Name has not been pronounced (at the time of the slaughtering of the animal).” [Al-Qur’an 6:121]

4. Consecration of certain portions of food, drink, cattle, and crops to idols. Surprisingly enough, portions were also consecrated to Allâh Himself, but people often found reasons to transfer parts of Allâh’s portion to idols, but never did the opposite. To this effect, the Qur’ânic verses go:

“And they assign to Allâh a share of the tilth and cattle which He has created, and they say: ‘This is for Allâh according to their pretending, and this is for our (Allâh’s so-called) partners.’ But the share of their (Allâh’s so-called) ‘partners’, reaches not Allâh, while the share of Allâh reaches their (Allâh’s so-called) ‘partners’. Evil is the way they judge.” [Al-Qur’an 6:136]

5. Currying favours with these idols through votive offerings of crops and cattle, to which effect, the Qur’ân goes:

“And according to their pretending, they say that such and such cattle and crops are forbidden, and none should eat of them except those whom we allow. And (they say) there are cattle forbidden to be used for burden or any other work, and cattle on which (at slaughtering) the Name of Allâh is not pronounced; lying against Him (Allâh).” [Al-Qur’an 6:138]

6. Dedication of certain animals (such as Bahira, Sa’iba, Wasila and Hami) to idols, which meant sparing such animals from useful work for the sake of these heathen gods. Bahira, as reported by the well-known historian, Ibn Ishaq, was daughter of Sa’iba which was a female camel that gave birth to ten successive female animals, but no male ones, was set free and forbidden to yoke, burden or being sheared off its wool, or milked (but for guests to drink from); and so was done to all her female offspring which were given the name ‘Bahira’, after having their ears slit. The Wasila was a female sheep which had ten successive female daughters in five pregnancies. Any new births from this Wasila were assigned only for male people. The Hami was a male camel which produced ten progressive females, and was thus similarly forbidden. In mention of this, the Qur’ânic verses go:

“Allâh has not instituted things like Bahira ( a she-camel whose milk was spared for the idols and nobody was allowed to milk it) or a Sa’iba (a she camel let loose for free pasture for their false gods, e.g. idols, etc., and nothing was allowed to be carried on it), or a Wasila (a she-camel set free for idols because it has given birth to a she-camel at its first delivery and then again gives birth to a she-camel at its second delivery) or a Hâm (a stallion-camel freed from work for their idols, after it had finished a number of copulations assigned for it, all these animals were liberated in honour of idols as practised by pagan Arabs in the pre-Islamic period). But those who disbelieve, invent lies against Allâh, and most of them have no understanding.” [Al-Qur’an 5:103]

Allâh also says:

“And they say: What is in the bellies of such and such cattle (milk or foetus) is for our males alone, and forbidden to our females (girls and women), but if it is born dead, then all have shares therein.” [Al-Qur’an 6:139]

It has been authentically reported that such superstitions were first invented by ‘Amr bin Luhai. [Bukhari 1/499]

Prayer (Kitab Al-Salat): Details of Commencing Prayer

Dawud :: Book 3 : Hadith 774

Narrated AbuSa’id al-Khudri:

When the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) got up to pray at night (for tahajjud prayer) he uttered the takbir and then said: “Glory be to Thee, O Allah,” and “Praise be to Thee” and “Blessed is Thy name,” and Exalted is Thy greatness.” and “There is no god but Thee.” He then said: “There is no god but Allah” three times; he then said: “Allah is altogether great” three times: “I seek refuge in Allah, All-Hearing and All-Knowing from the accursed devil, from his evil suggestion (hamz), from his puffing up (nafkh), and from his spitting (nafth)” He then recited (the Qur’an).

Istijmar — cleaning your poo and pee using STONES or anything that can serve the same purpose like tissue or paper.

Don’t be too surprise that we need to learn about washing poo and pee using tissue. We are now living in the time where there is the luxury of water and we will never know for how long we can live in this luxury. Also this knowledge can help you whenever you go to places where there is no water or no water hose for example.

Generally when you perform istinja’ make sure you are clean until the poo and pee has no smell, and feel and colour. Can use soap so you will smell good too!

For istijmar

1. If you need to use stones, it has to be three or more and it should be odd number. So 3, 5, 7 and so on until clean.

Ablutions (Wudu’)

Bukhari :: Book 1 :: Volume 4 :: Hadith 163

Narrated Abu Huraira:

Allah’s Apostle said, “If anyone of you performs ablution he should put water in his nose and then blow it out and whoever cleans his private parts with stones should do so with odd numbers. And whoever wakes up from his sleep should wash his hands before putting them in the water for ablution, because nobody knows where his hands were during sleep.”

Lessons

1. can use stones

2. Use it in odd numbers

The same rule applies if you are using paper or tissue.

Also we are not allowed to use dung or bone to clean ourselves. This may sound silly because you would never think of doing this, but then again since it is in a hadith there must be wisdom to it. And as a Muslim we submit to it.

And also some animal dung, when it has dried up is hard liek stone too. So some may thought that it is ok. Wallahu alam.

The Book of Purification (Kitab Al-Taharah)

Muslim :: Book 2 : Hadith 504

Salman reported that it was said to him: Your Apostle (may peace be upon him) teaches you about everything, even about excrement. He replied: Yes, he has forbidden us to face the Qibla at the time of excretion or urination, or cleansing with right hand or with less than three pebbles, or with dung or bone.

Merits of the Helpers in Madinah (Ansaar)

Bukhari :: Book 5 :: Volume 58 :: Hadith 200

Narrated Abu Huraira:

That once he was in the, company of the Prophet carrying a water pot for his ablution and for cleaning his private parts. While he was following him carrying it(i.e. the pot), the Prophet said, “Who is this?” He said, “I am Abu Huraira.” The Prophet said, “Bring me stones in order to clean my private parts, and do not bring any bones or animal dung.” Abu Huraira went on narrating: So I brought some stones, carrying them in the corner of my robe till I put them by his side and went away. When he finished, I walked with him and asked, “What about the bone and the animal dung?” He said, “They are of the food of Jinns. The delegate of Jinns of (the city of) Nasibin came to me–and how nice those Jinns were–and asked me for the remains of the human food. I invoked Allah for them that they would never pass by a bone or animal dung but find food on them.”

The Book of Prayers (Kitab Al-Salat)

Muslim :: Book 4 : Hadith 903

Dawud reported from ‘Amir who said: I asked ‘Alqama if Ibn Mas’ud was present with the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) on the night of the Jinn (the night when the Holy Prophet met them). He (Ibn Mas’uad) said: No, but we were in the company of the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) one night and we missed him. We searched for him in the valleys and the hills and said. He has either been taken away (by jinn) or has been secretly killed. He (the narrator) said. We spent the worst night which people could ever spend. When it was dawn we saw him coming from the side of Hiri’. He (the narrator) reported. We said: Messenger of Allah, we missed you and searched for you, but we could not find you and we spent the worst night which people could ever spend. He (the Holy Prophet) said: There came to me an inviter on behalf of the Jinn and I went along with him and recited to them the Qur’an. He (the narrator) said: He then went along with us and showed us their traces and traces of their embers. They (the Jinn) asked him (the Holy Prophet) about their provision and he said: Every bone on which the name of Allah is recited is your provision. The time it will fall in your hand it would be covered with flesh, and the dung of (the camels) is fodder for your animals. The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: Don’t perform istinja with these (things) for these are the food of your brothers (Jinn).

Lessons.

1. Not to use dung or bone to clean up your poo and pee.

2. Bone of an animal which has been slaughtered in the name of Allah, is food for the jin while the animal dung, is food for their animals.

3. You can see the manners and care we must exercise even with the jins that we cannot see.

Never use right hand to clean private part

Rasulullah sallalahu alaihi wasalam forbids you to use right hand to clean your poo and pee. Instead you must use left hand

The Book of Purification (Kitab Al-Taharah)

Muslim :: Book 2 : Hadith 504

Salman reported that it was said to him: Your Apostle (may peace be upon him) teaches you about everything, even about excrement. He replied: Yes, he has forbidden us to face the Qibla at the time of excretion or urination, or cleansing with right hand or with less than three pebbles, or with dung or bone.